Device for indicating lubrication for an automobile



July-6,1937. .RWCO'Y 2,085,920

DEVICE FOR INDICATING LUBRICATION All-AUTOMOBILE Filed May 9, 1954 2sheets-sheet 2 E Q l., 27 24 i Patented July 6,1937

UNITED STATES `DEVICE FOR INDICATING LUBRICATION FORAN AUTOMOBILE JamesReynolds McCoy, Jersey City, N. .'I., assignor of one-fourth to Geo. A.Byrne, Brooklyn, N. Y.

Application May 9, 1934, Serial No. 724,743

12 Claims.

The present invention relates to a device for indicating lubrication foran automobile.

It is well known that the various standard makes of automobiles requirespecial types of lubrication for each particular part thereof. Inpractice, theservice operator at the garage must consult the catalogs orinstruction books of the automobile manufacturer, or some othe1reference book, in order to ascertain the correct lubrication for anygiven part of the automobile which .is to be lubricated. Ordinarily theservice man relieson his memory, or some times only guesses at what typeof lubrication should be used. a result, the automobile is givenimproper lubrication and, consequently, parts wear out, fail in service,or the like. Various proposals have been made to overcome thedisadvantages of the present system of lubricating automobiles, but asfar as I am aware, the attempts have been unsuccessful'for one reason oranother.

It is an object ofthe present invention to provide a device whichovercomes the disadvantages of prior systems of indicating lubricationto be used for an automobile and to provide a device which ispractically foolproof. It is another object of the invention to providea device which will indicate electrically the exact and correct type oflubrication to be used. n It is a further object to provide a devicewhich '00 is Capable of indicating the correct type of lubrication to beused for the principalor all parts of practically all of the standardmakes of automobiles. It is also within the contemplation of the inu"vcntion to provide a device which is capable cf being mounted at, agarage or service station at a convenient and visible point so as toindicate electrically the lubrication to be used for' any o 'givenautomobile of standard make. summarily stated, `the principal object ofthe invention is to provide a device for indicating the proper mannerfor lubricating the different types of automobiles, which comprises achart of fixed and movable units serving as a guide for indicating thevarious parts of an automobile to be lubricated and the particularlubricants therefor, in conjunction with selectiveimatricescorresponding to the prescribed lubricating systems of 50 the`respective cars, said matrices being capable of selectivelycontrollingthe closing of electrical circuits for actuating the movableunits of the chart, which may be easily followed by the workmen at thegarage or service station and without 55 requiring any knowledge ontheir part respecting the particular lubricants to be used.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent fromthe following description taken in conjunction with the drawings in 60which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a front elevational view of the casing removed from the standand with the cover shown in its open position.

Fig. A3 is an enlarged detail vertical sectional view of a portion ofthe casing on the line 3-3 Fig. 9 is a detail sectional view on the line9 9 of FigureV 2. v

Refening more particularly to Fig. 1, the reference character Cdesignates the casing or housing of some suitable material which ismounted on a. stand T so that the device may be conveniently placedinposition in a garage, service station, or the like, 'and connected bythe cable X to an electrical outlet.A The front of the cas-V ing isclosed by a cover A which is vhinged to the top of the casing at H sothat it may be thrown upwardly and held in its open position, as shownin Figure 2, by any suitable means.- Behind the cover, the face of thecasing is pro- .vided with a plurality of glass windows W. Upon eachwindow of the top row B, a legend is placed which indicates the part ofthe automobile to be lubricated. Reading from left to right onFigure 2,with the exception of the liirst window in row B, which is left forspecial notices, the legends placed on the windows are, front wheelbearings, rear wheel bearings, pressure ttings, spring shackles,steering gear, engine crank case, um-

, versal joints, fan bearing, water pump, clutch bearings, transmissioncase,'rear housing, shock absorbers, oil holes, cups, wet clutch,electrical units, and general chassis. Of course, as many windows can beemployed in the new device as is desirable, but it is preferred merelyto employ the principal parts of an automobile. I

In alignment with the top row of windows B, -are a plurality of rows ofwindows D, D- D-2, D-3 and D-4. vBehind each of these windows isarranged to appear the name of the correct. type of lubricant to be usedwhen the device is actuated. For instance, some types of steering gearsrequire a gear oil, while others require a grease. Similarly, for theother parts of an automobile, certain lubricants are requiredforparticular parts of certain-standard gears. For assisting the operatorat the garage or service station, a picture P, of an automobile is shownon the inner side of the cover A. This picture Adepicts a chassis of anautomobile with legends directed to important parts of the gear whichmust be lubricated. By using the picture in conjunction Withthelegendsappearing on the front of the casing, the work of an operator inlubricating an automobile at a service station or a garage, is clearlyfacilitated. rIfo further assist the operator in servicing various makesof automobiles, other data, such as, crank case capacities, lubricationdata, radiator data and tire pressures, may be placed on the inner sideof the cover adjacent to the side ends thereof. A space E for specialnotices is also provided on the front of the casing A.

Within the lower right hand corner of the casing C, a control box Fispositioned for controlling the actuation of electro-magnets M, which aremounted behind the windows of the rows D, D-I, D-2, D-3 and D-4.

The electro-magnets, (see Figures 3 and 4) are 'provided with shuttersS, on the face of which Doe, the type V8 .and the model 1933.

The operator consequently can select the card which corresponds to theautomobile which isv to be lubricated. By placing the card 3, in thecontrol box F, the proper electro-magnets are actuated and the shuttersdrop behind the windows A of therowsrD, D-I, D-2, D-3, D-4.

A detail construction of -the control box F is shown in Fig. 5. The bodyof the box is preferably made of an insulating material such asbakeiite, hard rubber, and the like. Incorpo'- rated in the back of thebox F, are a plurality of electrical contact plugs 4. The front ofthe-box is closed by a slide 5, which has its inner upper edge 6, turneddownward, and its inner lower edge l, turned upward to provide amounting 'for the control card 3. The slide 5 is held in its outerposition by means of spring actuated plugs 9, mounted in the back of thebox F, and engaging the back of the slide. As one skilled in the artwill readily understand, control card 3 is arranged to permitcooperation with proper electrical contact plugs 4 when the slide ispushed to its inner position, so that only proper or selectiveelectrical circuits will be established aswill be explained hereinafter.

The electric plugs are made of a housing IIJ,

- within which a sliding contact II is positioned.

A spring I2 is mounted in the rear of the housing I and tends to -presscontact II towards the front of the box.

As may be seen from Fig. 5, the front of the casing is provided with anopening O, through which an operator may insert his flnger for pushingthe slide 5 inwardly. When the slide is operated, some 'of the slidingcontacts 4 engage the surface of. the matrix or control card 3, whereasother contacts pass through perforations I4 and make contact with themetal plate I5, secured to the innerside of the slide. These contactswhichengage with plate I5, complete a circuit to an electrical devicepreferably an elecj tro-magnetl M, which is mounted within the casingC.v When pressure on the slide is released it returns to its'originalposition thereby ture 2 I, which is pivotally'connected at its lowerend, to the lower portion of the frame I6. When the. armatureY isenergized by the magnet, its upper end is swung inwardly and away fromthe lug 20, thus permitting the shutter I8, to drop to its lowerposition. The downward movement of the shutter is limited by means of aprojection 22, secured to the inner end of the shutter engaging a lug23, mounted on the frame I6. As

shown on Fig-3, the face of the shutters is prol vided with legendsdesignating the lubricants, gear oil and cup grease. After the shuttershave been actuated, any suitable means may be employed for returningthem to their upper position. A resetting mechanism is herein shown inthe form of a movable cross bar 24, mounted within the upper side endsof the casing. One end of the bar extends through the casing and isprojected downwardly to provide a handle 25. Lugs 26, are secured to thecasing on each side of the handle to limit its movement. The undersideof the cross bar 24, is provided with a projection 21, which isarranged-to engage the upper end of a vertical resetting bar 28, whichis mov-'- ably mounted in brackets 29, secured to the back A of thecasing. Outwardly projecting pins-30, are

mounted in the'side ofthe bar 28, and arranged to engage the side of theshutters I8,.when in -their lower position, and return them to theirupper position when the resetting mechanism is actuated. It is,to beunderstood that thereis a resetting bar 28, located between'each pair ofrows of electro-magnets. In operating the resetting mechanism, theoperator takes hold of the handle 25, and pulls it forward, which turnsthe bar 24 and-causes the projection 21, to move the resetting bar 28,upwardly. In moving upward, the pins 30, on bar 28, engage the shuttersthat have dropped and return them to their upper position. In 'returningto their'upper position the lug on the shutters engages and escapesbehind the upper edge of the armature 2l, which,

tions 33, electro-magnet M, wire connection 34,

a source of current 32, and a return circuit to the contact plate I5. Asthose skilled in-the'art will readily understand, the matrix or controlcard 3, when placedvin the control box F, will permit only the propershutters S, to drop behind the proper windows in rows D, D-I, D-2, D-3,,andv D-"4. The service man or operator can then cant is to be employed.

For the purpose ofA giving those skilled in the art a betterunderstanding of the electrical connections, a diagrammatic electriccircuit is illustrated in Fig-7. '-In this `gure, control card or matrix3, is shown'with a plurality of holes orperforations II, incorporatedtherein, to permit. sliding contacts 4, to engage contact `plate l5.A Acircuit is thus established, including wires 33, electromagnets M, wire34, a source of current 32, and a wire 35, to contact plate I5.

It is clear those shutters are actuated which are controlled byperforations Il, in the control card or matrix. The dropping of theshutters behind the windows provides a fool-proof indicating system forthe information'of the garage operator or service man who is lubricatingthe automobile under consideration. By having suitable control cards, agarage or service station is in a position to Agive reliable lubricationservice to all standard makes of automobiles. Those skilled in the artwill appreciate the importance of this feature and its value in sellingreliable and dependable lubricating service to the public generally.

For the purpose of giving the customer or automobile owner whoseautomobile is to be lubricated, an accurate record of what was done onhis car, a system of receipt cards is provided to be used in conjunctionwith thei device described hereinabove. These cards are shown in Fig. 8.The reference character lV designates the original of the card. As willbe seen, the card has a place for the name of the customer as well asthe name of .the car, the date, the initials of the person lubricatingthe car and the parts of the car to be lubricated. It is preferred tohave card 40 in triplicate softhat the customer may have the originalcard, the central' oice of the garage or the service station theduplicate card, and the attendant at the service station the triplicatecard. I mi It is preferred to provide .a punching device- 4I which ismounted upon casing C so that car'd 40 can be punched to indicate thedifferent parts of the automobile which `have been lubricated. Thus, aplurality of punches 42 are provided in the punching device tocorrespond with the variou's parts of ,an automobile which has to belubricated. By slipping the card in the punching device 4| and byoperating the various punches 42, card 40 may be punched to'indicateexactly what parts have been lubricated on the automobile undertreatment. Of course, there is a legend beside each punch 42 so that theoperator knows exactly what the punch in question means.

In Fig. 9 a sectional view of the punching device is shown. In this viewitis clearly seen that punching device 4| is mounted on casing C andpunchesA 42 mayv be operated to perforate or punch card 40 which isinserted in the punching device. By the' use of this auxiliary device anaccurate record is made of what parts were lubricated on the automobile.

While preferred embodiments of the invention have been described herein,it ls to be' understood that the invention is not limited to the precise-construction and form of these embodiments, and` that variations andmodications may be made without departing from the' scope of theinvention as defined in fthe appended claims. A

l claimz- 1. A device for indicating the lubrication to lie used onan'automobile which comprises a plurality of continuouslyu operativeindicating units, each of said units'denoting a part of an automobile tobe lubricated, a plurality of intermittently operative indicating units,each of `ated therewith and denoting the naine of a lubricant,individual electrical contact means for each of said circuits capable ofcooperating with a Acontact means in common for said circuits and .ofactuating said intermittently operative indicating units, \and a controlcard having perforations in accordance with the lubrication4requirements of a type of an automobile adapted to be interposed betweena group of said individual contact means and said common contact meansand to prevent actuation of said contacts vand of the indicating unitsassociated therewithn 2. An apparatus for indicating the lubricants tobe used on parts to be lubricated of automo' biles comprising aplurality of continuously operative indicating umts denoting the partsof an automobile to be lubricated, a plurality of electrically energizedindicating units associated with the aforesaid units denoting thelubricants to be used for said parts, a system of electrical circuitsassociated with said indicating units, a source of current for saidcircuitsa contact 'for each of said circuits, "and a selective matrixhaving insulating and non-insulating areas arranged to co-operate Withsaid contacts and adapted to prevent actuation of a. selective number ofsaid contacts engaged by said insulating Y areas and of the circuitsassociated therewith."

3. A device for electrically indicating the lubrication to be used on anautomobile which comprises a casing, a plurality of indicating unitsmounted therein, said indicating .units includingv a ixed set toindicate the parts of 4an automobile to .be lubricated and a movable setadapted to be moved from an invisible to a visible position by electricaction to indicate what lubribrication to be used on an automobile whichcomprises a casing, a plurality of electrical indicating unitscomprising electrically operable shutters mounted in said casing, eachof said shutters bearing the name of a lubricant on its face and beingadapted to be moved Afrom van invisible to a visible position, anelectrical circuit associated with each of said indicating units, anelectrical control means including a contact for each of said circuits,and a control card of an insulating character having perforations inaccordance with the -a plurality of indicating units mounted therein,

said units comprising a xed row for indicating the parts of theautomobile to be lubricated and a plurality of rows of movableelectrical indicating units each of said units beingadapted foractuation to indicate a lubricant to be used, an electrical circuit anda contact means associated with each of said movable 'indicating units,a control box for housing said contact means, and a control card of aninsulating character having perforations arranged in accordance with thelubrication requirements of a ltype of automobile mounted in saidcontrol box said card being adapted to prevent actuation of a group ofsaid contacts and to maintain the indicating units associated therewithin an inoperative condition.

6. A device for indicating the lubrication to be used on an automobilewhich comprises a casing, a plurality of indicating units mountedtherein and visible to an operator, said units comprising a row forindicating the parts of the lautomobile to be lubricated and a pluralityof-rows of movable electrical indicating units each of 'said units-being adapted for actuation to indicate a lubricant to be used; anelectricalcircuit and a contact associated with each of said movableindicating units, a control box for housing said conttacts, and acontrol card inserted in said control box having insulating andnon-insulating areas arranged in accordance with the lubricationrequirements of a type of an automobile, said card being adapted toprevent actuation of agroup of said contacts engaging said insulatingareas and to maintain the indicating units associated therewith inaninoperative condition.

'7. A device for indicating the lubrication to be used on an automobilewhich comprises a casing, units mounted therein containing the names ofparts to be lubricated, a plurality' of windows through which theparticular lubricant to be used may be noted for each part of theautomobile', an electrically -actuated shutter associated with eachwindow, said shutter bearing the name of the lubricant to be'used andadapted to Athe parts to be lubricated, and Va plurality of "windowsthrough which the particular lubricant to be used may be noted for eachpart of the automobile, an electrically actuated shutter associated witheach Window, said shutter bearing the name of a lubricant to'be used andadapted .to show said name in said window when actuated, a movableelectrical contact for each of said shutters, a control device housingsaid electrical contacts, a control card having insulating andnon-insulating areas arranged'in accordance with the lubricationrequirements of a type of an automobile inserted in said control deviceand engaged by` said contacts, said card preventing actuation of thecontacts engaging said insulat Aing areas and of the shutters associatedtherewith.

9. A device for indicating the lubrication to be used on-an automobilewhich comprises a casing,

units mounted therein containing the names of the` parts to belubricated, a plurality of windows through which the particularlubricant to be used may be noted for each part of the automobile', anelectrically actuated shutter associated with each window, said shutterbearing the areas and of the shutters associated therewith,x

and means mounted on said casing for re-setting said shutters afteractuation.

10. A device for indicating the lubrication to be used on an automobilewhich comprises a casing, a plurality of electrically energized movableindicating units mounted in said casing, each of said movable indicatingunits being adapted to show the name of a lubricant when energized andmoved into an operative position, a control means including anelectrical contact, associated with each of saidindicating units, and acontrol card having perforate and imperforate areas inserted 'in saidcontrol means and adapted to prevent actuation of a selected group ofsaid contacts and of the indicating units associated therewith.

11. A device for indicating the lubrication 'to be used on an automobilewhich comprises a casing, a plurality of indicatingunits mounted in saidcasing, said indicating units including a xed set to indicate the partsof an automobile to be lubricated, an electrically energized' movableset to indicate the lubricant to be used on said parts, each of said tmovable indicating units being adapted to show the name of a lubricantwhen energized and moved into an operative position, a control meansincluding an electrical contact Aassociated with each of said movableindicating unit's, and a control card inserted in said control means andadapted to prevent actuation of a group of said contacts and of theindicating units associated therewith.

12. A device for indicating the lubrication to be used on an automobilewhich comprises a casing, a plurality of indicating units mounted in.

said casing, said indicating units including a xed set to indicate theparts of an automobile to be lubricated, an electrically energizedmovable set to indicate thelubricant to be used on said parts, each ofsaid movable indicating units being' adapted to show the name of alubricant when energized 'and moved into an operative position, acontrol means including an electrical contact associated with each ofsaid movable indicating units, a control card inserted in saidl controlmeans and adapted to prevent actuation of a 'the indicating units aftereach operation.

'J REYNOLDS MCCOY.

